Feature and Magazine Feature and Magazine WritingWriting

Chapter 6Chapter 6

Long outlineLong outline

Let a week pass if you have the timeLet a week pass if you have the time ““When you’re embroiled in the reporting, When you’re embroiled in the reporting,

everything seems important. Some facts you everything seems important. Some facts you have worked so hard to get, you just can’t bear have worked so hard to get, you just can’t bear to give them up. When you research intensely, to give them up. When you research intensely, every little detail seems important. But if you every little detail seems important. But if you give yourself distance, the truly important ones give yourself distance, the truly important ones stand out.”stand out.”

Story structureStory structure

Chronological: tells a story from beginning to Chronological: tells a story from beginning to endend Flashback and flash-forward is acceptableFlashback and flash-forward is acceptable

Least-to-most important: opposite of the news Least-to-most important: opposite of the news story’s inverted pyramid, which -- after a lead story’s inverted pyramid, which -- after a lead -- presents the most important information first-- presents the most important information first Moves the subject from the simple to the complexMoves the subject from the simple to the complex May or may not present the information May or may not present the information

chronologicallychronologically

Story structure …Story structure …

Problem and solution: subdivides the issues, provides Problem and solution: subdivides the issues, provides answers, moves on to the big answeranswers, moves on to the big answer Often begins with one or more anecdotes or examples of Often begins with one or more anecdotes or examples of

problems, then moves to solutions to those problemsproblems, then moves to solutions to those problems Catalog: Essentially a list, classified and explainedCatalog: Essentially a list, classified and explained Repetitive structure: Introduces a concept and Repetitive structure: Introduces a concept and

hammers away at it until the point is madehammers away at it until the point is made Reinforces concept with anecdotes and quotationsReinforces concept with anecdotes and quotations

Combination of the aboveCombination of the above

Writing the leadWriting the lead

Delayed lead: Withholds (for a few Delayed lead: Withholds (for a few paragraphs) identification of the person, group, paragraphs) identification of the person, group, place, or event that is central to the storyplace, or event that is central to the story

Descriptive lead: Paints a word portrait of a Descriptive lead: Paints a word portrait of a person, group, place, or event (page 189)person, group, place, or event (page 189) Called situation lead if a scene is set or an Called situation lead if a scene is set or an

atmosphere is createdatmosphere is created Each segment begins with a different person’s Each segment begins with a different person’s

point of view, then is developed chronologically point of view, then is developed chronologically from materialfrom material

Leads …Leads …

Direct address lead: Usually uses or implies Direct address lead: Usually uses or implies the second person, “you,” is designed to the second person, “you,” is designed to involved the reader in the story without involved the reader in the story without introducing the writerintroducing the writer

Expression lead: Has many variations. May Expression lead: Has many variations. May mimic words from several fields (movies etc)mimic words from several fields (movies etc)

First-person lead: Something personal and First-person lead: Something personal and extraordinaryextraordinary Diary lead: uses first person in a telegraphic styleDiary lead: uses first person in a telegraphic style

Leads …Leads …

Freak lead: Rare. Definition, fragment, Freak lead: Rare. Definition, fragment, onomatopoeia, poetry, pun, script leadsonomatopoeia, poetry, pun, script leads

Prediction lead: This lead ties a startling Prediction lead: This lead ties a startling forecast to a reputable sourceforecast to a reputable source

Question lead: Last resort. Lacks intrigue. Question lead: Last resort. Lacks intrigue. Quotation lead: Indirect or direct quote, tied to Quotation lead: Indirect or direct quote, tied to

some sort of description of the person some sort of description of the person speaking or the settingspeaking or the setting

Leads …Leads …

Relationship lead: Describes cause and effect, Relationship lead: Describes cause and effect, which explains how one event triggers anotherwhich explains how one event triggers another

Surprise lead: Shocks the reader. Only when Surprise lead: Shocks the reader. Only when the reader reaches the transition to the body of the reader reaches the transition to the body of the story, does the meaning of the lead become the story, does the meaning of the lead become clearclear

Summary lead: Sums up in a few sentences, or Summary lead: Sums up in a few sentences, or a few paragraphs, the essence of the storya few paragraphs, the essence of the story

Writing the body of the storyWriting the body of the story

Long paragraphsLong paragraphs Weak verbsWeak verbs Telling rather than showingTelling rather than showing WordinessWordiness Lack of anecdotesLack of anecdotes JargonJargon ClichesCliches

Writing the end of the storyWriting the end of the story

First paragraphFirst paragraph Last two paragraphsLast two paragraphs

Student critiqueStudent critique

Story structureStory structure LeadLead Use of quotationsUse of quotations Anecdotes, if necessaryAnecdotes, if necessary Humor, if necessaryHumor, if necessary Use of verbsUse of verbs Telling rather than showingTelling rather than showing Cliches, rather than originalityCliches, rather than originality